Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-30

withdrawn, the huge key turned, and
he opened the door but few inches,
in strong tones:
What want you at this hour?
Speak quickly, for sleep is precious.
" / would see your daughter Dam
aris," replied gentle, manly voice
that seemed the semblance of one she
had heard before.
No such request had before been
made by any one, and it brought the
Governors quick wit to standstill.
Man alive! Who are you that at
this hour SO unpropitious, and ia per-
sonality so mystical, come and claim
converse with my daughter? She has
no doings with others than are in this
household, and 1 command that you
keep the peace and rouse us no
more" he said violently closing the
door and boiling and barring it. while
Damaris and her mother looked on
tresEblingly until the last mode OF
fastening had been used. Good
night. mother,n said he as he bad
them on their way" and see that thy
windows are we'll secured. l have
thoughts that will keep me well into
the night, and l must away o-morrow
early to see Governor winthrop.
Goodman Norcross will protect you
to church."
Damaris was dazed as she went to
her room after a fond embrace from
her mother, who had borne many
hardships in the New England that
her daughter might grow up well and
pious. The girl tor she was yet
young, in her twenties, was tall and
slender, gathering into her movements
the grace and simplicity her early life
in London among the beauty and
wealth OF the times had taught her.
She had fair skin, with gray eyes
that bespoke love and purity OF heart,
and a gentle, sacred expression
that seemed to have gathered
angelic beauty during the long sick
ness which nearly snatched her away
throughout the first year in the new
land Slender fingers showed faith
full devotion to work and duty, and
on one of them was worn plain gold
band, placed there by her outcast
brother (and duplicate worn by
him), upon her leaving England, he
not sympathizing with the Puritans
and determing to still remain in Lon
don.
Damaris slept i'll that night; her
thoughts conjured up wild, insensate
dreams, and from dewy eve to
awakening morn seemed intermin-
able. Her early duties called her to
work, and soon breakfast was ready
for her worthy father, who was clad
in his soldiers trappings, ready for
departure. Last words were spoken,
and the admirable man rode away
upon his mission to Governor Win
throp.
Twas a September Sunday, and all
nature was decked in robes OF finest
green; the Autumn had not yet be-
gun to tinge the leaves with proud
colors before their fall, and the blus-
tering winds were lingering in THERE
haunts ere descending upon the
sparse settlement, casting leaves and
branches and dust in wild confusion
upon the earth. Damaris stood at the
door looking upon the crooked river;
looking beyond it upon the pastures
and woodlands; and farther still upon
the hills that concealed the remains
of many tragedy between the red
men and some too adventurous white
settler. Her mother was within, busy
ing herself with final pretty fiXings,
as she was awaiting the coming of Mr..
Norcross.
"Well Andrew" said she, rs he
turned the by-path and advanced,
with curious look upon his counte-
nance, "father has gone this good
while, and | fear we will be late to
church"
"Damaris, there is young man
yonder at my house to-day who asks
after you, and sends you this ring rs
a remembrancer-ah, you recognize
it?'
1t was unusual for the Governor to
be absent from church, but there be-
ing important business with Governor
Winthrop regarding g. new case of
supposed witcncraft which had been
bewildering the sturdy minds of the
authorities for some weeks, and on
the day previous, the trial OF the
Sooth>ayer having taken place, Grad
ork was anxious to learn the results,
other important affairs detaining him
at home, although his presence had
been greatly needed in the courtroom.
So it was that he journeyed to Boston,
accompanied Governor Winthrop to
church, and received the distinction
of saying grace at dinner late in the
afternoon. The witch and all her
trappings were to be let alone, and
many OF the community were salts
fled.
Brave Mathew set out for home
early in the evening, carrying heavy
heart, for all who were p leased to en-
gage in the "frustlesse beggartly art OF
alchemistry" were heavy burdens
upon his acute brain; and the news of
the acquittal had displeased him and
led his thoughts into dissatisfied chan
nels. Th- way was long, the roads
were dark, and full two hours would
elapse before he saw the house which
protected his blessed daughter. Then
the thoughts of the previous night
came to him and began to make havoc
in his brain, and dreadful conjectures
as to the intents of the mysterious
visitor broke in upon the customary
composure of his apparently we'll
balanced mind.
Why should stranger ask for his
daughter? and at such 4 time of
night? Had she lover? No! He was
the only one she loved; her father
was her betrothed until death. Yet,
in his absences, she might have in
tercourse with some young settler,
and he yet be ignorant of it. But was
he not her confidant, and would not
he have known--and then, like the
blow OF the sledge hammer upon the
anvil, came those thoughts which
come to all of us when we would find
errors in those we love, all summed
up in this question: "Why has she
been 80 reserved toward me lately?"
We owe jealousy toward our own
credulity, and credulity is childish.